How to Say “It’s Very Cheap” in Spanish

Introduction

Shopping in Spanish-speaking countries can be an exciting adventure, especially when you discover great deals and bargains. Knowing how to express that something is very cheap or inexpensive is essential for travelers, shoppers, and Spanish learners alike. This comprehensive guide will teach you multiple ways to say it’s very cheap in Spanish, from the most common expressions to regional variations and colloquial phrases that native speakers use every day.

The Most Common Way: Es Muy Barato

The standard and most widely understood way to say it’s very cheap in Spanish is es muy barato. This phrase works in all Spanish-speaking countries and is appropriate for any situation, whether formal or casual.

The breakdown is simple:
Es means it is
Muy means very
Barato means cheap or inexpensive

When referring to feminine nouns, you would use es muy barata instead. For example, if you’re talking about a shirt, which is camisa in Spanish and feminine, you would say es muy barata. Similarly, for plural items, you would say son muy baratos for masculine or mixed groups, and son muy baratas for feminine plural nouns.

Here are some practical examples:
Este reloj es muy barato – This watch is very cheap
Esta blusa es muy barata – This blouse is very cheap
Estos zapatos son muy baratos – These shoes are very cheap

Alternative Expressions for Inexpensive

Using Económico

A slightly more formal alternative is es muy económico, which translates to it’s very economical or affordable. This phrase is particularly useful when you want to sound more sophisticated or when discussing financial matters in a professional context.

For example:
Este hotel es muy económico para la calidad que ofrece – This hotel is very affordable for the quality it offers

The Expression Es Una Ganga

When something is not just cheap but an exceptional bargain, Spanish speakers often use es una ganga, which means it’s a steal or it’s a bargain. This expression conveys excitement about finding an incredible deal.

You might hear:
¡Esta chaqueta es una ganga! – This jacket is a steal!
A ese precio, es una ganga – At that price, it’s a bargain

Using Cuesta Poco

Another common way to express that something is cheap is cuesta poco, which literally means it costs little. This phrase focuses on the actual price rather than describing the item itself.

Examples include:
Este libro cuesta poco – This book costs very little
No te preocupes, cuesta poco – Don’t worry, it doesn’t cost much

Regional Variations Across Spanish-Speaking Countries

Latin American Expressions

In Mexico, you might hear está regalado, which literally means it’s given away for free, but is used to express that something is extremely cheap. This colorful expression emphasizes just how good the deal is.

For instance:
A ese precio, está regalado – At that price, it’s practically free

In some Caribbean countries and parts of Central America, people use está tirado to mean something is dirt cheap. The literal translation is it’s thrown, suggesting the item is so inexpensive it’s almost being thrown at you.

In Argentina and Uruguay, you might encounter sale dos mangos or sale dos pesos, colloquial expressions meaning it costs next to nothing. While mango literally means mango, in this context it’s slang for a small amount of money.

Spanish from Spain

In Spain, people commonly say es muy barato just like in Latin America, but you might also hear está tirado de precio, which emphasizes that the price is incredibly low. Another Spanish expression is es una bicoca, meaning it’s a trifle or something of little value, used when referring to an amazing deal.

Intensifying Your Expression

Sometimes muy just isn’t enough to express how incredibly cheap something is. Spanish offers several ways to intensify your expressions.

Using Súper or Súmamente

You can replace muy with súper for a more enthusiastic tone:
Este vestido es súper barato – This dress is super cheap

For a more formal intensification, use súmamente:
Este producto es súmamente económico – This product is extremely economical

The Suffix -ísimo

Spanish has a wonderful grammatical feature called the absolute superlative, formed by adding -ísimo to adjectives. For cheap, this becomes baratísimo for masculine nouns and baratísima for feminine nouns, meaning extremely cheap or dirt cheap.

Examples:
Este teléfono está baratísimo – This phone is extremely cheap
Esta computadora está baratísima – This computer is dirt cheap

Phrases for Comparing Prices

When shopping, you often need to compare prices. Here are useful expressions:

Más barato que means cheaper than:
Esta tienda es más barata que la otra – This store is cheaper than the other one

El más barato means the cheapest:
Este es el más barato de todos – This is the cheapest of all

Tan barato como means as cheap as:
No hay nada tan barato como esto – There’s nothing as cheap as this

Conversational Phrases for Shopping

Here are complete conversational phrases you can use while shopping in Spanish-speaking countries:

¿Tiene algo más barato? – Do you have anything cheaper?
Busco algo económico – I’m looking for something affordable
¿Cuál es el más barato? – Which one is the cheapest?
Qué barato! – How cheap!
No puede ser tan barato – It can’t be that cheap
A este precio, es una ganga – At this price, it’s a steal

Cultural Context and Usage Tips

Understanding when and how to use these expressions is just as important as knowing them. In many Spanish-speaking cultures, bargaining is common at markets and with street vendors, so knowing how to discuss prices is practical.

When complimenting someone on finding a good deal, using enthusiastic expressions like qué ganga or está regalado shows appreciation for their shopping skills. However, be mindful that calling something barato when someone has given it to you as a gift might be considered rude, as it could imply the gift was of low value.

In formal business settings, económico is generally preferred over barato, as it sounds more professional. When writing formal emails or business proposals, use es una opción económica rather than es muy barato.

Practice Scenarios

To help you internalize these expressions, imagine these scenarios:

At a street market, you find handmade bracelets for just two dollars each. You might exclaim: ¡Están baratísimas! or ¡Qué ganga!

Your friend asks about your new laptop, and you want to emphasize what a great deal you got. You could say: Es muy económica para todas las características que tiene.

You’re comparing hotel prices with a travel companion. You might say: Este hotel es más barato que los otros, pero tiene buenas reseñas.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One frequent error is forgetting to match the gender and number of barato with the noun. Remember that barato changes to barata for feminine nouns, and to baratos or baratas for plural forms.

Another mistake is using es muy cheap by mixing English and Spanish. While Spanglish is common in some communities, it’s better to use proper Spanish expressions when learning the language.

Don’t confuse barato with caro, which means expensive. These are opposite terms, and mixing them up will lead to confusion.

Conclusion

Mastering how to say it’s very cheap in Spanish opens doors to better shopping experiences, more natural conversations, and deeper cultural understanding. Whether you use the standard es muy barato, the enthusiastic es una ganga, or regional expressions like está regalado, you now have a rich vocabulary for discussing prices and bargains. Practice these phrases in real conversations, pay attention to how native speakers use them, and soon you’ll be expressing value and affordability like a true Spanish speaker.